McClaren denies Boro complacency

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren has insisted he did not underestimate Greek outfit Skoda Xanthi after seeing his side edge their way towards the UEFA Cup group stage.

Goals from George Boateng and a deflected Mark Viduka effort on 28 and 83 minutes respectively send Boro to Greece in a fortnight's time in the driving seat in the tie.

However, had Ioannis Matzourakis' side taken advantage of any of the four golden opportunities they created inside six second-half minutes, the Teessiders might have faced a much trickier proposition.

Georgian midfielder Levan Maghradze and lone striker Stavros Labriakos each squandered two excellent chances to level as Xanthi hit back, but McClaren bristled at suggestions his side might have been taken by surprise.

"We didn't underestimate Xanthi one bit," he said. "You would have to ask Xanthi what they thought - we are just happy to win the game and, at the halfway stage, we have an advantage."

Xanthi boss Matzourakis admitted his players had perhaps overestimated Boro in the first half, and accepted they have a major job on their hands if they are to turn the tie around.

"In general, we made more mistakes than usual in the game," he said. "Maybe that was because we were afraid of our opponents, or maybe it was because we had overestimated our opponents.

"But it was fair that Middlesbrough won the match and I congratulate them. We have to fight at home, but the second goal that Middlesbrough scored makes our task more difficult.

"If we do not stop making mistakes - because we are making the same mistakes in the Greek championship - then we have no chance."

McClaren disappointed with turnout

Boateng's strike came after keeper Petr Pizanowski had blocked Massimo Maccarone's shot following full-back Ioannis Papadimitriou's slip, and Boro were cruising at the break.

But prompted by excellent Brazilian playmaker Luciano, Xanthi upped the stakes in the second half and it took Viduka's shot, which flew in off French defender Jacques Paviot's boot, to seal the win.

McClaren, who rested skipper Gareth Southgate, Franck Queudrue and Aiyegbeni Yakubu along with the ineligible Fabio Rochemback, was delighted with the result, but disappointed with the turn-out as only 14,191 fans watched the game.

"We are very disappointed because we worked so hard the season before to get into Europe, we had such a good run and enjoyed it last season and we worked so hard to get it again this season because that was the measure of success," he said.

"I am disappointed with that. The chairman has worked very hard and I am disappointed for him because he wanted to bring European football to this football club.

"It is an honour for him and it is disappointing that the team has not been backed by the fans."